Improved invalid-bedstead



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FRANKLIN H. SMTH AND WILLIAM F. WOOD, OF NORTH HEBRON7 INEW YORK.

' Letters Patent No. 92,380, (lated July (i, 1869.

IMPRovi-:D INVALID-BEDSTEAD.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and'makiiig part 0f the Same- To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN H. SMITH and WILLIAM F. WOOD, of North Hebron, in the county of Vashington, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Iin'alid-Bedstead; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which 'will enable others skilled in the art to makel and use the parts whereby both ends of the jointed frame upon the bed-bottom are adapted to be raised simultaneousl-y, or one end only drawn up at a time, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A, in the drawing, represents the frame. of a bedstead of ordinary or suitable construction.

B is the bed-bottom, arranged in suitable manner.

C O are two horizontal longitudinal or transverse shafts, which have their bearings in the upper parts of the bedlposts D D, a considerable distance above the bod-bottom.

On one 'of these s ha'fts, if longitudinal, as shown, is arranged a loose sleeve, `E, which carries a handerank, a, by means of which it may be turned, and

, which can, if desired, be locked by a set-screw or pin,

l), to the shaft C.

In this case the shaft wil? be turned with the sleev'e.

A belt or cord, c, fastened with one eudlto the 4 sleeve E, passes over a loose roller, al, that is hung upon the shaft C', and has its other end fastened to the side ofthe frame F. A

A cord or belt, e, extends directly down from the sleeve E to the flame F.

To the opposite end of the-shaft C are fastened. two further belts or cords, f and g, of which the one, f, passes around a roller, h, which is loose or fast on C, while the other, g, extends directly down and is fastened to the frame F the cord f heilig also fastened to said frame.

The frame F is of rectangular form, corresponding with the shape of the bed-bottom, and is madc'of light wooden or other bars, so as to be open in the middle, as shown.

The bed-sheet G is stretched upon the frame F, which can be let down to rest upon the bedding that is placed upon the bed-bottom.

By turning the sleeve E, all the cords or belts will be wound around the shaft O, so as to elevate the stretched sheet to the same height on all sides.

rlhe patient on -the .sheet can thus be elevated above the bedding to any suitable height, as indicated by red lilies in iig. 1, to have the bedding arranged, without disturbing the patient.

An, aperture may be provided through the sheet, as indicated in iig. 2.

'lhe frame F can be elevated slightly above the bedding, as in iig. 1, and a suitable vessel may be placed upon the latter, and under the aperture, to receive the 'matter discharged by the patient.

,The frame F is made jointed, that is to say, its longitudinal bars are made each of two pieces, that are hinged together, so that they may be locked rigid, to leave the frame straight, by means of sliding bolts, e, or otherwise, while, when thc bolts are vdrawn back, the fraaie will be flexible, as shown in fig. 3. i

When the pin4 or screw b is removed, so that the sleeve E will work loose on the shaft C, the belts f aud-g will he thrown ont of connection with the sleeve, and only one end of thc frame F will, by turning the sleeve, be swung up, as in fig. 3, whereby the patients posture can be regulated at will. f

The frame F can, by hand or by detaching the belts from one side, be readily raised at one side, to turn thepatient, if that should be desired.

Pawls, j j', engaging wheels, K, that-'are mounted ou the sleeve E and shaft C, serve to lock the fra-me at any desired elevation, preventing the cords from unwindiug from the shaft and sleeve.

When the shafts are arranged transversely, the one having the crank must have loose sleeves for receiving the coids that run over the other shaft, for the purpose of allowing the raising of one end ofthe frame.

Having thus described our invention, i,

We claim as new, and desire to secure Patent- 'lhe sleeve E, having the crank a, when adapted to turn loosely upon the shaft O, or to be locked rigidly to it by the pin b, in combination with the loose roller il, shaft O',-bands or cords c ef g, jointed frame F, pa'wls land ratchcts j It, and the bedstead, all arranged as described, whereby both ends of the -fi'amc F are adapted to be raised together, or one end only at a time, for the purpose specitied.

v FRANKLIN H. SMITH.

VILLIAM F. WOOD.

Witnesses for SMITH:

FRANK Btooknnr, (inonde W. Manen.

Witnesses for Woon:

().- F. THOMPSON, GEO. 1t. THOMPSON.

into the teeth of ratohetl by Letters 

